Northwestern University Athletics
Football Falls to Purdue
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Wide receiver D'Wayne Bates had six catches for 84 yards and two touchdowns, but Purdue was too much as the Boilermakers knocked off Northwestern in the 'Cats 1998 home finale, 56-21.
Bates' two touchdowns give him 24 for his career, a new Northwestern record. The senior, who missed nearly all of last season with a broken leg, also tied the school record for career catches (197). He moved into third place on the all-time Big Ten list with 3,097 yards receiving.
Purdue led 13-0 late in the first quarter before the Wildcats got on the board. NU posted one of its best offensive displays of the season, marching 98 yards in six plays to narrow the gap to 13-7. The drive culminated on a 15-yard TD pass from Gavin Hoffman to Bates. The score was set up on the previous play as fullback Levelle Brown rumbled 50 yards on an inside handoff. Purdue scored the next 29 points to secure the game.
The Wildcats added two fourth quarter touchdowns, including a 26-yard scoring strike from Hoffman to Bates as well as a nine-yard pass to Jay Tant, who in the process tallied his first career touchdown.
NU closes out the season with road games next week at Penn State (11:10 a.m. CST, ESPN2) followed by a trip to Hawaii on November 21.
